At the Cross her station keeping

The mother standing at the cross, in twenty verses.

The Stabat Mater is the hymn of Our Lady of Sorrows, sung at the Stations of the Cross and on 15 September. Attributed to the thirteenth-century Franciscan Jacopone da Todi, it does something few hymns attempt: it asks to share the grief it describes.

The Hymn

At the cross her station keeping,
stood the mournful Mother weeping,
close to Jesus to the last.

Through her heart, His sorrow sharing,
all His bitter anguish bearing,
now at length the sword had passed.

O how sad and sore distressed
was that Mother highly blest
of the sole-begotten One!

Christ above in torment hangs;
she beneath beholds the pangs
of her dying glorious Son.

Is there one who would not weep,
whelmed in miseries so deep
Christ's dear Mother to behold?

Can the human heart refrain
from partaking in her pain,
in that Mother's pain untold?

For the sins of His own nation
she saw Jesus wracked with torment,
all with scourges rent.

She beheld her tender Child
see Him hang in desolation
till His spirit forth He sent.

O sweet Mother! font of love,
touch my spirit from above,
make my heart with yours accord.

Make me feel as you have felt;
make my soul to glow and melt
with the love of Christ, my Lord.

Holy Mother, pierce me through;
in my heart each wound renew
of my Saviour crucified.

Let me share with you His pain,
who for all our sins was slain,
who for me in torments died.

Let me mingle tears with thee,
mourning Him who mourned for me,
all the days that I may live.

By the cross with you to stay,
there with you to weep and pray,
is all I ask of you to give.

Virgin of all virgins blest,
listen to my fond request:
let me share your grief divine.

Let me, to my latest breath,
in my body bear the death
of that dying Son of yours.

Christ, when You shall call me hence,
be Your Mother my defence,
be Your cross my victory.

While my body here decays,
may my soul Your goodness praise,
safe in heaven eternally. Amen.

About This Hymn

It is one of only five sequences retained in the Roman Missal. What makes it unusual is the request in the second half — not for comfort, but for a share in the sorrow. The logic is the logic of love: you cannot stand beside someone in grief and remain untouched, and the hymn asks not to be spared.